Hydroplane-operating mechanism for submarine boats



1. BARRAJA-FRAUENFELDER.

HYDROPLANE OPERATING MECHANISM Foa s uBMAmNE BOATS.l

APPLCATION FILED APR. I4. 19.17..

Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ua mw l. BARRMA-FRAUENFELDER. HYDROPLANE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SUBMARINE BOATS,.

APPLCATION FILED APR-14. 19H.

Patente Feb 10, 192.0.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. BARRAJA-FRAUENFELDER.

-HYnnoPLAuE GPERATING MECHANISM FOR SUBMARINE BOATS.

APPLICA-non men APR. 14. wu.

1,330,754. Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ngnirnn stains ra'rnur OFFICE.

JOSEPH BARRATA-FRAUENFELDE, OF ERIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 THE LAKE TORPEDO BGAT COEIIPANY 0F MARTE, 0F BRIDGEPRT, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION 0F MAINE.

HYDROPLANE-OPERATING lVEC-IANISIVI FOR SUBMARINE BOATS.

Application filed April 14,

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JosEri-r BARRAJA- FRAUENFELDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydroplane-Operating Mechanism for Submarine Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to submarine boats, and more particularly to hydroplane operating mechanism for controlling the submerging and rising of the boat and maintaining it on an even keel, and has for its purpose the provision of novel, simple and effective mechanism for controlling the movements of the hydroplanes, both in extending them into operative position, rocl'- ing them to the desired angle when maneuvering the boat below the surface of the water, and to fold or ship them when the boat is on the surface of the water.

The invention relates primarily to the type of hydroplanes which are extended and folded by a pivotal movement, and tilted when extended by a rocking movement about a longitudinal axis to present either face thereof to the passing` waters to cause the boat to submerge or rise on an even keel lThe invention provides tubes or hollow shafts suitably mounted within the boat in transverse relation and adapted to be turned about their longitudinal axes, hydroplanes pivotally connected to the outer ends of the tubes, or hollow shafts, to swing outward into operative position or inward against the sides of the boat into inoperative position; hydroplane-operating mechanism mounted upon the inner ends of the said tubes, or hollow shafts, and connected with the hydroplanes by means passing through the tubes and housed thereby, and tube-operating mechanism for rotating the tubes when the hydroplanes are extended into operative position to present either face of the hydroplanes to the action of the waters to cause the boat to submerge, or to rise on an even keel,

In the accompanying drawings, illustrat` Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

1917. Serial No. 162,024.

ing the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated Figure l is a diagrammatic transverse sectional view of a submarine boat embodying my improvement.

F ig. 2 is a longitudinal section drawn on a larger scale through one of the hydroplanes and its operating mechanism, the hydroplane being shown folded.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the hydroplane in an extended position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view drawn on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section drawn on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a -transverse section drawn on the irregular line 6-6 of Fig.,4.

rIhe numeral 1 designates thesuperstructure, and 2 the main hull or body of a subiarine boat provided with hydroplane operating mechanism embodying the invention. The numeral 3 indicates a supporting plate or deck within the hull.

It isto be understood that the hydroplanes and the operating mechanism therefor are disposed upon opposite sides of the boat so as to maintain the same on an even keel during the various adjustments of the hydroplanes when extending, folding, or tilting them, Inasmuch as the hydroplanes, their mountings, and operating mechanism are alike, a detail description of one will su'liice for a clear understanding of the invention. v

A tube, or hollow shaft 4, is mounted within the boat in any substantial manner, and at the required position, and is adapted to be turned about its longitudinal axis. The tube, or hollow shaft 4, is arranged to occupy an approximately horizontal and transverse position, and is mounted at. or near its ends in suitable bearings 5 and 6 lirmly secured Ato sustaining parts of the boat. /Vhile the tube, or shaft 4, is mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis, it is prevented from any longitudinal movement, and any means may be employed for imparting a turning movement thereto.

i hydroplane 7 is pivotally connected to Cgi the outer end of the tube, or hollow s haft el, so as to swing outwardly into operative position, or to fold against the side of the boat into inoperative, or shipped position. 11s illustrated, a pivot 8 is disposed transversely of the tube Ll and supported at its ends in opposite sides of the tube. rlie hub portion 9 of the hydroplane is mounted upon the pivot S and is formed with oppositely disposed projections 10 to which links 11 and 12 are pivotally connected at their outer ends. l/Vhen the hydroplane is extended into operative position, or folded against the side of the boat, the opposing sides of the links 11 and 12 touch, indicated at a (Figs. 2 and 3), thereby forming stop means to hold the hydroplane extended or folded. 1t is not necessary that the links 11 and 12 touch throughout their length, hence intermediate portions are cut away.

An actuating element 13 is located at the inner end of the tube, or hollow shaft l, and is mounted to have a pivotal movement iniparted thereto. The inner ends of the links 11 and 12 are pivotally connected to the element 13 an equal distance from its axis, with the result that the links 11 and 12 remain parallel at every stage of their movement. The element 13 is mounted upon a pivot 14, journaled in arms extending,` from a casing 30, hereinafter referred to, inclosing` the inner end of the said tube 4. rllhe pivots 8 and 1a are parallel and in the same plane An operating shaft 15 is provided at the inner end of the tube 4, and is supplied at one end with a hand wheel 16 for convenience of operation when it is required to extend or fold the hydroplane. n worm 17 on the shaft is in mesh with worm teeth 18 on the actuating' element 13. Rotation of the shaft 15 in one direction extends the hydroplane into operative position, and rotation of the shaft 15 in a reverse direction folds the hydroplane against the side of the boat. Tho links 11 and 12 transmit movement from the actuating element 13 to the hydroplane, and such vlinks passing through the tube l1 are housed and protected thereby.

W hen the hydroplane is extended it is moved to present either face to the passing; waters by turning the tube or hollow shaft l about its longitudinal axis. This turning` of the tube t may be effected by any suitable mechanism, and it is observed that such movement is independent of that which extends or folds the hydroplane. 1n the embodiment illustra-ted, the inner end of the tube -1 has a segmental worm gear 19 fastened thereto, and such worm gear is in mesh with a worin 2O on a vertical shaft 21, which may be operated in any desired way. The tube, or hollow shaft 4C, is turned about its longitudinal axis at such times only when the hydroplane is extended, so as to tilt such hydroplane to present either face thereof to the passing' Waters to cause the boat either to submerge or to rise.

Under normal conditions, when the submarine boat is on the surface of the water, the hydroplane 7 is folded against the side thereof. When it is desired to submerge, the operatinp,` shaft 15 is actuated, thereby extending the hydroplane into operative position through the link connections 11 and 12; the tube e is now turned about its longj-itudinal axis to tilt the hydroplane to present its upper surface to the Water, thereby causing` the boat to submerege when in motion. llVhen it is desired to rise, the tube a is turned about its longitudinal axis in a reverse direction, thereby tilting' the hydroplane to present its lower face to the passing' waters when the boat is in motion, With the result that the boat ascends. When the boat is operating on the surface of the water, the hydropla-ne is folded against the side thereof by operating the shaft 15 'in an opposite direction to that previously practised in extending' the hydroplane.

To insure operation of the boat on an even keel when submerg'ing or rising, it is essential that the hydroplanes be operated in consonance both when extending, them into operative position, folding' them into shipped position, or tilting them to present either face to the passing' Waters to submerge or to rise. This is accomplished by suitable connections between the shafts 21 and the operating' shafts 15. As illustrated, the operating shafts 15 are extended at their lower ends, and are provided with bevel gears 22, which mesh with companion bevel gears 23 keyed to the ends of a transverse shaft 2/1. 1t will thus be understood that movement of one of the operating shafts 15 will result in like and corresponding movement of the opposite shaft 15, so that both hydroplanes at opposite sides of the boat are either extended or folded with a like movement.

rlhe shafts 21 may be connected in any preferred manner to cause them and the tubular members t to operate in unison, and at an even speed to insure a like movement of the hydroplanes when tilted to cause the boat to submere'e or to rise on an even keel. 1n the embodiment shown, the shafts 21 have bevel gears 25 keyed thereto and in mesh with companion bevel gears 26 secured to the ends of a transverse shaft 27, which, in turn, is geared to a main shaft 2S, which may be operated from any suitable source of power, and which is geared to the shaft 27 in any manner to effect rotation thereof.

1t will be understood from the foregoing', reference beine` had to the accompanying drawings, that the hydroplanes at opposite sides of the boat are operated alike, and

are limited when extended or folded by the link connections between them and their respective actuating means. It is also noted that the mountings are such as to insure lirm and substantial supports. It is further observed that the mechanism may be readily installed upon a boat, and is comparatively simple in formation, effective in operation, and adapted to be readily manipulated. The parallel links 1l and 12, besides acting to transmit movement from the actuating` elements 13 to ,the hydroplanes, also serve as stop means to limit the pivotal movements of the hydroplanes in both directions, that is, when lowered into operative position, or folded into shipped position.

In practice, the inner end of the tube, or hollow shaft 4t, will be closed by a suitable ca'sing 30 provided with stuiing-boxes through which the operating` shaft 15 passes, and suitable stuffing-boxes 31 will also be provided in the bearings 5 and 6 for a like purpose, but as these features are well understood and would readily` present themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, it is not thought necessary to describe or to illustrate them in detail.

lhile I have shown and described the invention as particularly applicable for the operations of the hydroplanes of a submarine boat, it will be understood that the same construction may be carried out in connection with the operation of the forward and after horizontal rudders of aboat, and that the term hydroplanes used in the description and claims is to be considered synonymous with the .so-called horizontal rudders.

What I claim is 1. In a submarine boat, members mounted within the boat at opposite sides thereof and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, hydroplanes pivoted to the outer ends of said members and rotatable therewith, hydroplane-operating mechanism mounted upon the inner ends of the said members, connecting means between the hydroplanes and the hydroplane-operating mechanism of the respective members and passing therethrough, and adapted to act as stop means to limit the pivotal movements of the hydroplanes in both directions, and means for turning said members about theirl axes to tilt the hydroplanes when extended to cause the boat to submerge or to rise on an even keel.

2. In a submarine boat, members mounted within the boat at opposite sides thereof and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, hydroplanes pivoted to the outer ends of said members and rotatable therewith, hydroplane-operating mechanism mounted upon the inner ends of the said members, links passingl through the respective members and connecting the hydroplanes with the hydroplane-operating mechanism thereof, and means for turning the said members about their axes to tilt the hydroplanes when extended to cause the boat to submerge or to rise on an even keel.

3. In a submarine boat, members mounted within the boat at opposite sides thereof and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, hydroplanes pivoted to the outer ends of said members and rotatable therewith, hydroplane-operating mechanism mounted upon the inner ends of the said members, parallel links passing through the respective members and connecting the hydroplanes with the hydroplane-operating mechanism thereof, and adapted to limit the pivotal movements of the hydroplanes in both directions by the contacting of the opposing faces of the said links, and means for turning the said members about their axes to tilt the hydroplanes when extended to cause the boat to submerge or to rise on an even keel.

4L. In a submarine boat, members mounted within the boat at opposite sides thereof and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, hydroplanes pivoted to the outer ends of said members and rotatable therewith, actuating elements pivotally mounted within the inner ends of the members, connecting means between the hydroplanes and the actuating elements of the respective members and. passing therethrough, operating shafts mounted upon the inner ends of the members and geared to the respective actuatingelements, and means for turning the said members about their axes to tilt the hydroplanes when extended to cause the boat to submerge or to rise on an evenkeel.

5. In a submarine boat, members mounted within the boat at opposite sides thereof and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, hydropla-nes pivoted to the outer ends of said members andv rotatable therewith, actuating elements disposed at the inner ends of 'the members, parallel links passing through the members and having pivotal connection at their ends with the hydroplanes and actuating elements equidistant from their axes and adapted to limit the pivotal movements of such members in both directions, operating shafts mounted upon the inner ends of the members and geared to the actuating elements, and means for turning said members about their axes to tilt the hydroplanes when extended to cause the boat to submerge or to rise on an even keel.

6. In a submarine boat, tubular members mounted within the boat at opposite sides thereof and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, hydroplanes pivotally connected with the outer ends of the members to turn therewith, gear sectors mounted within the inner ends of the members, parallel links disposed within the members and connecting ggf 1,330,754

the hyclroplanes with the gear sectors and planes when extended to cause the boat to 10 serving to limit pivotal movements thereof submerge or to rise on an even keel.

in both directions, operating shafts mounted In testimony whereof I have hereunto set upon the inner ends of the tubular members my hand this 26th clay of March, A. D. 1917.

and in gear with the respective seetors, con- JOSEPH BARRAJA FRUENFELDER nesting` means between the operating shafts to insure simultaneous and like movement Witnesses: thereof, and means for turning the said M. E. HITCHCOCK, members about their axes to tilt the hyclro- M. D. BLONDEL. 

